We all want to save money and while drinking beer is a luxury there are alternatives while not sacrificing on the tastes that you enjoy. Nothing is more disheartening than eating a cheeseburger pizza from Paradise on a Sunday to realize that you have run out of your favorite beer too early or don't have enough for everyone.
Here's a few tips.
Get a keg
Now before you start thinking that this is some sort of idea of creating a fraternity in your house, there are all sorts of new size kegs that you can get, from a pony keg to a log to the more well-known quarter and a half barrel.
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Kegged beer requires that you have a constant source of pressure so that the beer does not get flat and spoil, so you'll have to invest in a tap as well as bottle of compressed air and regulator if you want to keep the beer for a prolonged period of time. Normally a tap can be rented from your local beer store for $10 with a deposit on the keg of usually $30 to 40 that you can reuse when you return your empty one.
Build a kegerator
You can take it to the next level and buy a kit to build a kegerator so that you can have several different types of beer at a time while still being able to take advantage of a bulk purchase. Mini-kegs also offer the ability to have several beers without needing a large space for cans and give you a draft experience. If you are looking to build a kegerator, head over to Maltose Express in Monroe as they will configure you with everything that you need to convert an old or new refrigerator over to your beer sanctuary.
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Drink comparable beers
Like macro beers? They taste the same and are from the same company. Want to bet that they are exactly the same product?! For example, Coors produces Keystone and Bud produces Busch. If you have a side-by-side comparison of the costs of a 30-pack of either of these beers, you look to save about 20 to 30 percent off their higher end brands. Or just go with PBR and increase your cred with the hipster elite. It's not just for macro beers either, micro beers have varying prices so make sure to check with your liquor store.
Get late season beer
Every beer company out there makes sure that their beer is not old, but some beer may be nearing that date. You don't want to drink out-of-date beer but older beer is OK and advised. Your local beer store may have specials that they are running and it is always worth checking out.
Switch the store you are going to
Leverage the telephone and see if your favorite beer has a different price at another store. I wouldn't raise an eyebrow if the differences were 10 percent or less.
Brew your own beer
This is one of those "saving" ideas in line with watching a DIY show where the staff has a full complement of high-end tools to get the job done, making the job look very simple. There is going to be a larger capital outlay and of time, so you aren't going to save in the short run and only in the long run if you brew often. However, being able to hand out a beer that you made increase the value of what you are drinking in my eyes and is something every beer lover should try. Check the Internet for local home brewer clubs to try and get yourself a mentor or head back over to Maltose for some guidance. And make sure to contact me for a sample as I'm always happy to test beer!
Share a purchase
Most beers are available in six packs but a case of beer will always be lower. But what happens when you just want a few beers and not enough for a whole case? Enter the group buy. Pooling resources together with friends, family, and/or fellow beer lovers will help get that special selection especially if you only want a few bottles of a beer.
Remember: A beer saved is a beer wasted!
